Winter crossword puzzle
Twelve cold-weather clues, from frost and icicles to scarves, skates, a fireplace and the hot cocoa waiting after the snow.
Curated by 
Esme Rook
·
Updated October 2026
Play it right here
12 clues to solve: 4 across and 8 down. Tap a square and type; tap it again to switch between across and down. Solved words lock in green.
Across
- 3. Long piece of fabric wrapped around the neck (5)
- 7. The shortest day of the year occurs at this event (8)
- 9. Ice crystal with a six-sided pattern (9)
- 11. To spend winter in a dormant state (9)
Down
- 1. Indoor hearth that warms a room (9)
- 2. Pointed piece of ice hanging from a roof (6)
- 4. Warm hand coverings without separate fingers (7)
- 5. Severe snowstorm with strong winds (8)
- 6. Bladed boots used on ice (6)
- 7. Small vehicle used to slide downhill on snow (4)
- 8. Hot chocolate drink (5)
- 10. Thin ice coating seen on a cold morning (5)
What kind of winter does this crossword cover?
The grid moves between weather, warm clothing and winter activities. Every clue describes the word directly, making this a comfortable seasonal puzzle rather than a test of obscure facts. FROST, a BLIZZARD and the SOLSTICE share space with MITTENS, SKATES, a SLED and a warm FIREPLACE.
Scarf, mittens and cocoa
Clothing and food are the quick wins. Scarf, mittens and cocoa cross the longer weather words. SOLSTICE and SNOWFLAKE are the two hubs, each crossing five answers, and MITTENS and COCOA touch both of them. SNOWFLAKE, HIBERNATE and FIREPLACE are the nine-letter answers, and SLED is the shortest at four. SCARF leads into ICICLE, the pointed piece of ice hanging from a roof, which then reaches SOLSTICE.
Hibernation and the shortest day
Two clues carry a little science. HIBERNATE means spending winter in a dormant state, and the SOLSTICE is when the shortest day of the year occurs. A SNOWFLAKE is clued as an ice crystal with a six-sided pattern, and a BLIZZARD as a severe snowstorm with strong winds. It suits classes in December and January, snow days at home and anyone who likes a cozy puzzle with a mug of cocoa. The winter word search stays in the same season, and the Christmas crossword fits the same weeks.
Indoors on a snow day
Solve on screen right here, or download the one-sheet PDF and print it. The answer key, with every square filled, is a separate PDF that stays with the adult in charge. The rest of the collection is on the printable crossword puzzles hub.
Same theme, different puzzle: Winter word search
